Do Not Disturb Filter for Electronic Messages

1. A method for suppressing a notification of the receipt of one or more electronic messages, the method comprising: providing a user interface through which a user can specify a time period during which notification of the receipt of an electronic message should be suppressed; receiving data by way of the user interface defining the duration of a time period during which notification of the receipt of an electronic message should be suppressed; receiving a request from the user to suppress notification of the receipt of electronic messages during the time period; in response to the request, suppressing notification that an electronic message has been received during the duration of the time period; receiving data from the user defining one or more types of electronic message or which a notification of receipt should be provided during the time period; in response to receiving an electronic message during the time period, determining whether the received electronic message is in one of the types of electronic messages for which a notification of receipts should be provided during the time period; and providing a notification of the receipt of the received electronic message in response to determining that the received message is in one of the types of electronic messages for which a notification of receipt should be provided during the time period.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining that the time period has expired; and in response to determining that the time period has expired, providing a notification of the receipt of any messages received during the time period.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising permitting electronic messages to be sent during the time period.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising permitting electronic messages received prior to the time period to be read during the time period.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising not providing a notification of the receipt of the received electronic message in response to determining that the received message is not in one of the types of electronic messages for which a notification of receipt should be provided during the time period.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein suppressing notification that an electronic message has been received during the time period comprises hiding all electronic messages received during the time period.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein providing a notification of the receipt of any messages received during the time period comprises un-hiding all electronic messages received during the time period.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the user interface comprises a selectable user interface item through which the user can specify that the time period comprises the duration of a meeting.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the electronic messages comprise electronic mail (e-mail) messages.

10. A computer storage medium that is not a signal having computer executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to: provide a user interface through which a user can specify a period of time during which notification of the receipt of electronic messages should be suppressed; receive a request from the user to suppress notification of the receipt of electronic messages for a period of time specified through the user interface; suppress notification of the receipt of any electronic messages during the period of time; permit the sending of electronic messages during the period of time; permit the reading of electronic messages during the period of time that were received prior to the period of time; receive data from a user defining one or more types of electronic messages for which notification of receipt should be provided during the period of time; and to provide notification of receipt of electronic messages in the specified types during the period of time.

11. The computer storage medium of claim 10 , having further computer executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to suppress notification of receipt of electronic messages of types other than the specified types during the period of time.

12. The computer storage medium of claim 11 , having further computer executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to: determine that the period of time has elapsed; and in response to determining that the period of time has elapsed, to provide notification of receipt for any electronic messages received during the period of time.

13. The computer storage medium of claim 12 , wherein suppressing notification of the receipt of any electronic messages during the period of time comprises hiding any electronic message received during the period of time.

14. The computer storage medium of claim 12 , wherein suppressing notification of the receipt of any electronic messages during the period of time comprises instructing a server computer to not transmit any electronic messages during the period of time.

15. The computer storage medium of claim 13 , wherein providing notification of receipt for any electronic message received during the period of time comprises un-hiding any electronic messages received during the period of time.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 14 , wherein providing notification of receipt for any electronic message received during the period of time comprises instructing the server computer to transmit any electronic messages received during the period of time.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the electronic messages comprise electronic mail (e-mail) messages.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the electronic messages comprise instant messages.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the electronic messages comprise short message service (SMS) messages.

20. A method for suppressing a notification of the receipt of one or more electronic mail (e-mail) messages, the method comprising: providing a user interface through which a user can specify a time period during which no notification of the receipt of e-mail messages should be provided; receiving data through the user interface defining the duration of a time period during which no notification should be provided when an e-mail message is received; receiving data defining one or more types of e-mail messages for which notification should be provided during the time period; receiving a request to provide only notification of the receipt of e-mail messages in the types during the time period; receiving an e-mail message during the time period; in response to receiving the e-mail message, determining whether the received e-mail message is in one of the types of e-mail messages for which notification should be provided during the time period; displaying a notification for the received e-mail message if the received e-mail message is in one of the types of e-mail messages for which notification should be provided during the time period; hiding the received e-mail message if the received e-mail message is not in one of the types of e-mail messages for which notification should be provided during the time period; determining whether the period of time has elapsed; and in response to determining that the period of time has elapsed, un-hiding any e-mail messages that were received and hidden during the time period.